Tile roofsng



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. W. OOOPER.

TILE ROOFING.

2'Sheet'sSheet 2.,

(No Model.)

A. W. COOPER.

TILE ROOFING.

No. 380,864. Patented Apr. 10, 1888.

joints between the tiles.

.Unirnn STATES PATENT Fries.

ARTHUR \V. COOPER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TILE ROOFENG.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofLetters Patent No. 380,864, dated April 10,1888.

Application filed DerembrrfiO, 1887. Serial No. 258,456. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. Coornn, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvementsin Tile Roofing; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had totheaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of tileroofs; and it consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointedout in the appended claims.

In tile roofs as heretofore constructed the tiles have commonly beenarranged to overlap each other in the same manner that shingles areapplied. A construction of this kind is only applicable to steep roofs,and is necessarily very heavy and expensive, inasmuch as the tiles areoverlapped in such manner as to give three thicknesses of the same overthe entire surface of the roof.

A tile roof constructed in accordance with my invention embraces asingle layer or thickness of arched tiles, which are supported at theiredges upon rafters or other similar supports, the joints between thetiles being formed by means of rabbeted metal jointing-strips extendingbetween and beneath the adjacent edges of the tiles, and provided attheir lower margins with gutters to receive and carry to an interior orexterior drain-pipe or dischargespout any water which may leak throughthe Said metal jointingstrips may be made of cast or wrought metal, andmay rest directly upon the rafters or main supports of the roof, or maybe otherwise sustained.

In the roof herein shown as embodying my invention the j ointing'stripsare made of sheet metal and are arranged longitudinally over and restupon rafters or supporting strips or bars, as will hereinafter fullyappear.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is asectional elevation illustratingthe construction of the roof embodyingmyinvention, the section being taken upon a vertical plane parallel withthe rafters. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken upon line w x ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section illustrating the jointbetween. the tiles. Figs. t and 5 are sectional views illustrating metalsupporting bars or rafters. Fig. 6 is a vertical section illustratingthe roof embodying my invention, differing somewhat from that shown inFigs. 1 and 2. Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken upon line 00 w ofFig. 6. Fig. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a form of tile which maybe employed for relatively flat roofs. Fig. 9 is a section showing onepractical form of cross-j oints between the tiles. Fig. 10 illustrates aform of roof differing slightly from that shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Fig.11 illustrates in erosssectiou a roof provided with rafters andsheathing-boards as a support for the tiles.

- As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, A is the wall, and B B the rafters,of a building.

C C are tiles, which are supported at their edges upon the rafters, andwhich are made of sufficient width to span the spaces between the saidrafters. Said tiles are transversely curved or arched between therafters, and are shown in said figures as made of somewhat greaterlength than width.

D D are metal jointing-strips, which are provided with a vertical partor flange, d, lo cated between the adjacent edges of the tiles andextending somewhat above the same. Horizontal parts d d of said stripsrest upon the upper surface of the rafters B beneath the marginal partsof the tiles, said horizontal parts being provided at their side marginswith longitudinal gutters (Z (1 formed by giving a curved or concaveform to the margins of the metal composing the strip. \Vhen thisjointing-strip is made of sheet metal, as herein shown, the entire stripwill commonly be com posed of a single piece of sheet metal bent orfolded at its middle, and having its folded part brought together toformthe vertical flange d, as shown in the drawings, and having itsmarginal parts spread to extend over the rafter, and bent at their edgesinto the form of troughs or gutters. The gutters d d are for the purposeof receiving and carrying away anywater which may leak throughthejointing between the edges of the tiles and the jointing-strips. Tomake the roof as tight as possible and prevent leakage at these points,the tiles will commonly be embedded in cem- 7 between the tiles will becovered by a cappiece, E, of inverted-U shape, placed over the upperpart of the vertical flange d, and provided with oblique flanges e e atits lower edge, constructed to overlap the adjacent margins of the tiles0 O. The constructions of the said several parts above set forth aremore clearly shown in the enlarged sectional view in Fig. 3.

In order to carry the wateraway from the vertical joint where the edgesof the tiles come against the vertical flange d, I make the tiles muchthicker at their edges than elsewhere and bevel the edges, so as to formupwardlyextending flanges having inclined surfaces 0 adjacent to andsloping away from the said flanges d. The said inclined surfaces 0 serveto deflect and carry away water from the flanges d, thereby greatlylessening the liability of leakage at the joints between the tiles bypreventing the accumulation of water near the metal flanges. The beveledflanges at the side margins of the tiles, together with the arched orconvex upper surfaces thereof, form two longitudinal gutters or valleysin each row of tiles, one at each side thereof, in which gutters thewater is confined as it flows downwardly toward the eaves.

I preferably make the metal cap-pieces E to fit over the inclinedsurfaces 0 of the tiles in the manner clearly shown in the drawings, so

that the joints will be covered or protected and the rain deflected awayfrom the latter. The employment of the cap-pieces E is not, however,essential, and favorable results may be obtained when they are omittedand the joints made by the use of putty or cement alone, inasmuch astheleakage in thelatter case would be slight and would be readily takencare of by the gutters provided forit. When the cap is present,furthermore, any putty or cement filling may be omitted, the mainpurpose of the latter, in case the cap-pieces E are present, being toafford a solid bearing for the tiles, which latter, being necessarilysomewhat irregular in form, would rest at a few points only upon theirsupports in case no filling material was employed at the joints.

To receive and carry to the longitudinal gutters any water which mayleak through the transverse joints between the tiles, or which may bedeposited by condensation upon and run down the lower surfaces of thetiles, I provide cross-gutters arranged beneath the crossjoints andconstructed to discharge at their ends into the longitudinal gutters.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown a construction adapted for roofs ofordinary pitch, which is as follows:

F are transverse metal strips or clips, which extend between the edgesof the tiles and are provided with a flange, f, extending over. theouter surface of the lowermost tile, a flange,

6 f, embracing the lower surface of the same tile, and a flange, fextending upwardly beneath the edge of the uppermost tile to a pointsomewhat above a horizontal line passing over the highest part of theclip. The strip F extends entirely across the space between the raftersor supports, and the flange f thereof extends over and terminates abovethe longitudinal gutters (1 d Said flange f together with the portion ofthe strip F which passes between the tiles, forms a triangular gutter toreceive any water which may leak through the joint between the tiles,such water being free to pass from the ends of the flangef into thegutters (P. The inner edge of the flange f being somewhat higher thanany other part of the metal clip, in case a considerable quantity ofwater accumulates therein, the water will run over or pass from the clipover its part which extends outwardly through the joint before the waterreaches a point sufficiently high to pass over the inner edge of saidflange f so that the possibility of leakage by the overflowing of thetransverse gutter formed by the clip is thereby entirely prevented.

For steep roofs the construction shown in Fig. 9 may be used, whereinthe upper tiles are lapped over the lower ones at their margins, theupper tiles being desirably rabbeted in the manner shown, to enable theedges of the tiles to be brought to a flat bearing upon the rafters orsupports.

Any suitable provision may be employed at the lower ends of the guttersd d to provide for the discharge of water from said gutters to adrain-pipe or discharge-spout. I have shown in Fig. 2 one practicalconstruction wherein the water is carried to an exterior gutter, suchconstruction being as follows: At the lower end of the rafters islocated a horizontally-arranged sheet-metal box or tube, G, providedwith outer and inner walls, 9 g, a bottom wall, and a top wall, To thelower part of the said box is attached a flange, G,which extendsupwardly andinwardly from the lower'edge of the box, and forms, with theinner wall, 9, a V'shaped trough or gutter. The lower ends of thegutters d extend over the said flange G and terminate inside of the wall9, so that water therein is discharged into the said trough or gutter.Openings 9 are formed in the inner wall, 9, at its lower part, and otheropenings, 9", are formed in the outer wall, 9, and water escaping fromthe gutters into the said trough passes through said openings' g intothe box G, and thence out through the openings 9 from which it may passinto a gutter, H, extending along the caves of the house or building.The lower ends of the tiles are constructed to fit over or upon the topof the tubular part G,which latter is provided with a flange, G, againstwhich thelower edges of the said tiles rest. In the particularconstruction shown the box G, together with the flanges G G thereon, isformed by a single piece of sheet metal bent and folded in the mannerillustrated in the drawings, the free ends of the sheet metal beingbrought together at the lower and outer corner of the box, where theyare extended outside of and over the boards h, forming the inner wall ofthe gutter.

It will of course be understood that in carrying out my invention thetiles may be supported at their margins upon rafters or supportsconstructed otherwise than in the particular manner shown in Figs. 1 and2-as, for instance,the rafters, instead of being made ofwood,asshown.insaid Figs.1and2, maybemade ofmetal, asillustrated inFigs. 4and5. In Fig. 4 a metal T-beam, B, is shown, to the upper fiatsurface of which the sheetmetal jointing strip D is fitted and uponwhich the margins of the tiles rest. The said strip is shown as securedto the beam by means of metal clips d cl, soldered or riveted to theinner surface of the jointing-strips and bent around or against themetal beam. In Fig. 5 I have shown a metal T-beam, B with its fiat partdownward, so that the central web ofthe beam extends upwardly betweenthe edges of the tile, the metal jointing strip D in this instance beingfitted over the surface of the central web and the horizontal parts ofthe beam.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown a construction wherein the roof issupported upon joists or rafters B extending in a direction transverseto the jointing-strips D D. In this instance the tiles are sustainedupon longitudinal strips B" B, which extend across and are supported onthe main rafters B B. Other parts of the roof shown in Figs. 6 and 7 arelike those shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and are lettered in a similarmannerin the drawings.

A tile roof constructed in the manner above set forth may be employedfor both steep and slightly-inclined roofs, it only being necessary thatthe roof should be inclined in the direction of the gutters (Z2 dsufliciently to cause the water to flow away through the gutters. Forvery flat roofs, however, it may be desirable in some cases to modifythe shape of the tiles, so as to make them more arching or pointed inthe middle and with sloping sides, as clearly shown in Fig. 8, in whichthe roof is made like that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with the exceptionthat the tiles are V shape in cross-section instead of being slightlycurved or arched. The purpose of making the tiles in the manner lastdescribed may be understood from the following: In roofs havingconsiderable pitch any water leaking through one of the transversejoints between the tiles, and which fails to enter the transversegutters f ,will run down or along the lower surface of the adjacent tileand will be caught in the next transverse gutter below the joint. In aroof which is nearly flat, however, such water leaking through the jointin this manner is liable to drip from the lower surface of the tile. Toprevent this result, I make the tile considerably higher in its centerthan in its sides, and preferably of V shape, as shown in said Fig. 8,so that any water which in any manner reaches the under surface of thetile will run down or along thelatter sidewise un til it reaches thelongitudinal gutters (Z d In Fig. 11 I have shown a construction whereinthe roof is provided with rafters covered with sheathing-boards in theusual manner, and in which the longitudinal strips supporting the tilesare placed over the sheathing-boards without reference to the locationof the rafters beneath. In this instance B are the main rafters, and Bthe sheathing placed over the same.. 13 B are longitudinal stripsresting on and secured to the sheathing. The tiles 0 and jointingstripsD and cappieces E are constructed and arranged in this instance in thesame manner as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 8.

It is not essential, as far as the main features of my invention areconcerned, that thejointing strip should be so constructed as to bringthe gutters at the exterior edges of the strip, andsuch gutters may belocated adjacent to the vertical part of the strip by suitably bend ingor shaping the latter. In a construction of this kind suitable supportsfor the margins of the tiles may be provided in a variety of ways. InFig. 10 I have illustrated one way of carrying out this form of theinvention, the parts therein illustrated being made as follows:

J J are the roofing-tiles, which are arched and provided at their sideedges with flanges having flat bearing-surfacesjj.

K K are two supporting strips or bars arranged parallel with each othera short distance apart and sustained upon transverse rafters K or othersupports.

Lis the jointing-strip,which is bent or folded in its middle to form avertical flange, Z,which latter is extended downwardly below the edgesof the tiles J J and between the bars K K. The side portions of saidstrip are bent upwardly and outwardly to form two troughs or gutters, ZZ, inside of the said bars K K and adjacent to the vertical flangeZ,while the marginal parts of the strip are bent outwardly over and restlongitudinally upon the upper surfaces of the bars K, as indicated atZ*, the extreme edges of the strips being bent upwardly, as indicated atZ The flat bearing surfacesjj of the tiles rest upon the horizontalparts Z Z of thejointing-strips.

j j aretrausverse cuts or grooves formed in or through the lower bearing-surfaces, 9' j, upon the flanges of the tiles, in order to affordspaces orpassages for allowing the flow of water along or over thejointing-strips from the flanges Z thereof into the gutters Z.

M indicates one of the clips for forming the transverse joints betweenthe tiles, the lower flange, m, of which is shown as extending to apoint inside and over the flange Z of the jointing-strip, so as toconduct water which may leak through the transverse joints inside of thesaid flange, from which point it may gain access to the gutters Z Zthrough the openings or cross-passages]. The joint illustrated in thisinstance is made with a cap-piece, N, in the same manner as beforedescribed.

The particular construction in means for sustaining the bars whichimmediately support the tiles and in the said bars themselves isimmaterial, inasmuch as said parts may be constructed in severaldifferent ways, several of which are herein shown. The particularconstruction illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, however, has specialadvantages in point of simplicity and economy, and such construction istherefore also claimed as part of my invention, together with otherfeatures of construc tion illustrated.

The making of the tiles of arched form between their supports or raftersin the manner set forth has several advantages. Oneis that it enables atile of sufficient strength to be made of less thickness and with theuse of less weight of material than would otherwise be necessary.Another advantage is that the arched form tends to cause the waterfalling thereon to flow immediately to the sides of the tiles, therebylessening the liability of leakage through the cross-joints, while atthe same time water which may flow to or become con densed upon thelower or under surface of the tiles is caused to flow laterally into thelongitudinal gutters. The arched form of the tiles, furthermore, greatlyfacilitates the prompt discharge of water from the cross-gutters beneaththe transverse joints of the tiles to the longitudinal gutters.

I claim as my invention- 1. A tile roof comprising supporting beams orrafters, tiles arranged edge to edge and resting thereon, and metal jointing-strips extending between and beneath the edges of the tiles andprovided with longitudinal gutters, said tiles being provided withbeveled flanges at their side edges and arched in their central parts,substantially as described.

2. A tile roof comprising supporting beams or rafters, tiles arrangededge to edge and resting thereon, metal jointing-strips extendingbetween and beneath the edges of the tiles and provided withlongitudinal gutters, said tiles being provided with beveled flanges attheir side edges and being arched in their central parts, andcrossgutters located beneath the transverse joints between the tiles anddischarging at their ends into said longitudinal gutters, substantiallyas described. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix mysignature in presence of 5 two witnesses.

ARTHUR W. COOPER. Witnesses:

G. CLARENCE PooLE, O. N. VVTLLIs.

